I was honored to publish a piece on Her View From Home!

Dear Mama,

Raising little ones is hard. Rewarding. Hilarious. And often lonely.

But you’re not alone.

I know that today you’ve acted as accountant, personal shopper, expert in conflict resolution, motivational speaker, events manager, and salesperson.

Tell me you didn’t use expert marketing skills to get those peas into your kid’s mouth!

Despite your many talents, you think your brain is shriveling while you change another diaper or wash another dish. These tasks fill your every moment and provide as much mental challenge as brushing your teeth this morning.

If you managed to brush your teeth this morning.

Someone suggested you play podcasts while you cook. Maybe then you can stimulate grown-up thoughts. But the play button instantaneously sets off your kids’ screaming, whining, or arguing.

Test my theory, if you’re not sure.

I know you plug your toddler’s mouth with a pacifier and enjoy a few hard-earned minutes of quiet. The price for this survival mechanism: avoiding the disapproving looks of strangers and loved ones alike.

How could you risk your child’s orthodontic future?

Mind you, they’re well-meaning strangers and loved ones. Like the sweet grandma at the park yesterday who told you to “cherish every moment”. You had a heart check and wondered do I not appreciate these moments?

Let me ask you: did you cherish the 30 minute battle of wills with your four-year-old that morning? Did you treasure the 10 seconds it took your toddler to create wall art with his own poop?

But before you could respond to Grandma, you had to excuse yourself and stop your toddler from stripping down to his birthday suit on the playground.

Again.

Trust me, I know you cherish your kids. But maybe not every moment of parenting.

And that’s OK.

Check out the rest of this piece here.